LTO Solution - Video Archive

[mikethemediaguy]

Hi,

I am working in a media archive and we are thinking about a new storage solution. We are expecting several media files with an annual volume of about 15-20 TB. The files will be delivered on external hard drives. And we want to save these files on LTO Tapes. Each file should be copied on three different tapes, so that we can store these tapes at different places.

Here is my idea:

I would buy a tape library (e.g. Tandberg, IBM, Quantum). I would connect this library to a windows workstation. I would connect the external hard drive to this workstation and copy the files on three tapes in the library. While one tape stays in the library, two backup tape will be ejected and stored at different places.

Does this make sense? Do you have any recommendations?

Especially I am looking for a software solution that would be able to execute the file transfer from the workstation to LTO. Furthermore the software should inculde a database with metadata on the files (e.g. tape ID, tape location, size or md5) and on the condition of the tapes.

Do you have any ideas?

Best regards
Michael

 

[kanewolf]

I wouldn't use a Windows host with a tape drive. Windows has never been a great OS for tape interface.

A desktop tape library might have a SAS data interface or a fiber channel interface. It probably also uses ethernet for robot control.